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Price per person (dinner)

~ ¥2,000

¥2,001 ~ ¥5,000

¥5,001 ~ ¥10,000

¥10,001 ~ ¥15,000

¥15,001 ~

*

Price for lunch if there is no dinner

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Cherry blossoms and historic buildings along the river

Cherry Blossom Viewing

Yuji Ito
(Licensed guide - English)

Along the Asano River, we can see many cherry trees in Kazuemachi. It is one of popular viewing spots of cherry blossoms in Kanazawa. Although it depends on the year, it starts to bloom from the beginning of April. The type of cherry blossoms is Somei-yoshino. We can see both cherry blossoms and historic buildings. With Higashi Chayagai, Kazuemachi is registered as an important preservation district of historic buildings. Kazuemachi is also a chayagai where some people enjoy Geisha performances and parties like Gion in Kyoto.

It is also interesting to walk on narrow alleys next to the road along the river. We can come across interesting and nostalgic scenes. Besides, there are two slopes named Kuragari-zaka and Akari-zaka. Kanazawa is also famous for its tasty slopes.

The road along the Asano river is called Kyoka No Michi. It is derived from a novelist, Izumi Kyoka. He was born in Kanazawa, and wrote many romantic and fantastic novels. If we walk along the road, we will reach a circuit style garden, Kazuemachi Ryokusuien. We can see Shidare-zakura which is different from a usual type of cherry blossom, Somei-yoshino. It is also one of must-see spots of cherry blossoms in Kazuemachi. The time of blooming is usually from early to mid-April. The color of Shidare-zakura is more pink than that of Somei-yoshino, and their branches are soft and weeping.
Kazuemachi Ryokusuien is a traditional garden with using remains of moats and walls of Kanazawa Castle. Therefore, we can see both Shidare-zakura and the unique circuit style garden. There is also a monument of Izumi Kyoka. It is creating a specific atmosphere.

Near Kazuemachi, there are some cultural facilities like Kanazawa Phonograph Museum, Izumi Kyoka Kinenkan and Kanazawa Bungeikan. After seeing cherry blossoms, we can visit them. Otherwise, we can walk to Higashi Chayagai and go to interesting shops, cafes and museums.

In the evening, we often listen to the sound of traditional instrument like Syamisen or Taiko. During the cherry season, we can see cherry blossoms with classical lighting up until 9 pm in Kazuemachi.

(Photos courtesy of Kanazawa City)

Date of post:2015/07/03

Lost in a small town filled with a historic atmosphere

City Walking

Kaoru Yoshida
(A freelance journalist, editor and blogger)

Kazue-machi Chaya district is one of the three geisha districts in Kanazawa. The district is on a river and is the smallest one but it is in an absolute picturesque town filled with the exotic atmosphere of the castle town of the Edo period (1603-1868).

The district is known for its magnificent cherry trees. A row of beautiful latticed tea houses filled with full bloomed cherry blossoms is definitely a stunning scenery. Many locals go there to see the cherry blossoms every year.

There are fancy restaurants, nice cafes, distinctive shops and galleries such as Terunoya aka Gallery Kyoka (http://www.kk-makie.com/), KARHU COLLECTION (http://cw-karhu.jp/). But Kazue-machi Chaya district is also a more nocturnal town with fancy bars and Japanese pubs.

You can try a lovely bar HITOHA (https://www.facebook.com/hitoha.kazuemachi) run by a real tea house owner or the sake
bar KAZOE (https://www.facebook.com/sakebarkazoe) if you're interested in Japanese sake.

I highly recommend to stay at Kikunoya in Kanazawa (http://www.machiya-kanazawa.jp/english/index.html). It is traditional latticed tea house that was reformed to offer modern features while maintaining its original style.
The prices are ¥54,000 for 2 to 3 people or ¥72,000 for 4 or 5 people per night. Also they offer an experience program that costs ¥13,000 for 2 to 4 people for 2 hours. In either case you can experience and learn deeply Japanese traditional culture.

＜INFOMATION＞
Address: Kazue-machi, Kanazawa 920-0908

Getting there
By bus
- Route bus: About 10 min from the Kenroku-en exit bus terminal at Kanazawa station. Get off at "Hashiba-cho (Kazue-machi / Higashi Chaya district)".
- Joka-machi Kanazawa Syuyu bus (Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus) : About 10 min (the bus that go around the right course) or 25 min (the bus that go around the left course) from the Kenroku-en exit bus terminal at Kanazawa station. Get off at "Hashiba-cho (Kazue-machi / Higashi Chaya district)".

By taxi
About 10 min from Kanazawa station.

* The information above is from the date of the review. Please be aware that some of the content may vary from the most recent information.